This week's team is posted on the NS website (see link below). As I mentioned in last week's post, this week's game against the undefeated Mounties will be a test - after three rounds, the teams we've played so far are coming 7th (Wenty), 10th (Newcastle) and 11th (Sea Eagles). Mounties have played Canterbury (9th), Newtown (8th) and Penrith (4th). On the face of it, slightly stronger opposition, particularly Penrith.

The game is being covered by Steele Sports Radio:

South Sydney has named a six-man for tonight's game against Sydney Roosters: Damien Cook; Anthony Cherrington; Robbie Rochow; Zane Musgrove; Tyrell Fuimaono; and Sitiveni Moceidreke. Cherrington, Fuimaono and Moceidreke are also named for Norths. (I thought Moceidreke was contracted to Norths rather than Souths?)

"Sitiveni Moceidreke joins the Rabbitohs in 2017 after a stand out performance playing with the North Sydney Bears. Scoring four tries in the ISP Cup round two match, Moceidreke has the speed and skills that will look to impress coach Michael Maguire."

Sounds like his form for North Sydney got him the contract. He made the starting side for tonight's game, onto the wing. And got a try in his NRL debut!

Tyrell Fuimaono and Anthony Cherrington dropped out of the squad, so I expect them to play for the Bears on Saturday.

Sounds like it's been a pretty rugged first half, and North Sydney leads 6-4. I've got a bit distracted in the last 20 minutes by the very exciting AFL Women's Grand Final. It's just ended, so NS will have my complete attention for the second half.

I'm listening through Steele Sports Radio. My notes are interspersed with the tweets from North Sydney and Mounties.

4:36PM Fintan Just under five minutes to go and captain Brad Deitz is put into the bin for mouthing off at the ref. Bears still lead 12-4 but Mounties start the set 15m from the NS line. Siolo gives away a penalty, commentators think a second binning could be coming. NS defence is holding. A third penalty to Mounties inside the NS 10m line. Mounties looks set to score but a NS hand forces a scrum. Set finishes with NS forcing the ball dead in goal for a line drop out for probably the last play of the match. NORTH SYDNEY HAS STOOD UP. Outstanding effort.

North Sydney have extended their undefeated run in 2017 to four matches, after accounting for fellow competition front-runners by 12-4 in a fiery clash at Aubrey Keech Reserve.

While Mounties were aided by the late addition of former Queensland State of Origin representative, Dave Taylor, it would be the Bears who would fire, bringing an end to the home side’s impressive start to 2017.

The two tries to one effort from Norths would not be without controversy however, with tempers flaring in the dying moments of the clash — Bears hooker, Brad Deitz being sin-binned for a professional foul with four minutes in the match remaining, leaving the eventual victors a man down to finish the game.

Ill-discipline would would feature throughout the match, and the opening exchanges were no exception. Inside the first four minutes Mounties got multiple early scoring opportunities inside the Bears 20 metre line, but despite the momentum, Norths were able to repel the attacking raids with strong defence.

The Bears would get their own string of opportunities though when halfback, Eli Levido, forced a repeat-set via a well-weighted grubber-kick, setting up a number of scoring opportunities for his side that would apply pressure to the home team.

With 15 minutes in the half gone, Mounties kicked a crucial forty-twenty through Jordan Turner that would see the home-side park themselves firmly inside the Bears side of half-way. Two tackles later, Dominic Reardon would be the beneficiary when he steamed onto a long Turner cut-out pass to score in the corner, to make the score 4-0.

Norths got themselves on the board at the 22 minute mark after a penalty to the visitors inside the 10 metres eventually resulted in Levido throwing a long ball out to winger, Dane Nielsen, who touched down in the corner to equalise. Levido’s conversion attempt was waved away, leaving the score at four apiece.

Mounties looked to hit-back moments later when Taylor hit a short-ball at speed close to the line, but while the ‘Coal Train’ looked certain to score, poor handling would rob him of a four-pointer mere inches from the line.

With 13 minutes left in the first half, Levido kicked a booming forty-twenty that would go out just metres from the try-line to again place the North-siders in prime attacking position. But yet another penalty would halt the momentum of the match, prompting referee Chris Trenemen to warn both sides.

Norths would opt to take the shot at goal, with Levido booting his side ahead to make the score 6-4 going into the sheds.

On the resumption, Norths applied the blow-torch to the Mounties defence, with wave after wave of attack raining down on the home-side’s own line. After multiple patient attempts, Norths would finally break through when a slick back-line movement resulted in Ed Murphy crossing out wide. Levido’s conversion attempt was again waved away, leaving the Bears in control at 10-4.

With Norths again looking dangerous on the Mounties line, Norths were awarded a penalty after Cheyne Whitelaw was hit high by Makahesi Makatoa. Norths seized the chance to boot themselves two points further ahead, with Levido slotting the goal from right in front to make it 12-4 with 20 minutes remaining.

The Bears continued to gather momentum by forcing a number of morale-boosting errors late in the match, much to the appreciation of the vocal Bears faithful who made the trip to Aubrey Keech for the Round 4 clash.

With seven minutes remaining, Bears hooker, Deitz was collected by a swinging arm, prompting a penalty that would see Norths have another roll of the dice close to the home-side’s line that would again prove fruitless.

Mounties would dominate the closing stages of the match following the sin-binning of Deitz, but it would be the North Sydney side that would take home the competition points.